Husker Stock Market

The 2011 season was full of ups and downs for Nebraska.

There were some big plays and some huge disappointments by Husker players. Husker Corner breaks down players that will be returning for 2012 and how their stock has risen or fallen since the start of the 2011 season.

Biggest Rise In Stock

1. Will Compton – LB – Senior (in 2012)

Why – Will Compton had the best finish to the 2011 season of any Husker player. By piling up 77 tackles and 6 tackles for loss, Compton proved that he is ready to step up and be the leader Nebraska needs on defense in 2012. Compton is Nebraska’s top returning tackler, and will need to step into an anchor role while young linebackers grow around him.

2. Kenny Bell – WR – Sophomore

Why – Jamal Turner was supposed to be the newcomer of the year on Nebraska’s offense. Instead, Kenny Bell blew up on the scene. His combination of raw speed and playmaking ability made Kenny Bell a tough player to defend for a number of defenses. Although he has problems with dropping passes, Bell was still one of the brightest spots for Nebraska’s offense.

3. Spencer Long – RG – Junior

Why – Going into training camp it was almost impossible to guess who would start at right guard. Then, with less than a week before the opening game of the 2011 season, a name surfaced that most of Husker nation had never heard of before. Spencer Long, who hadn’t started a single game at Nebraska, started the season at right guard. After a year that put running back Rex Burkhead in the top five in rushing in the Big Ten, Long was named second-team All Big Ten.

Biggest Fall In Stock

1. Sean Fisher – LB – Senior

Why – In 2010, Sean Fisher was penciled in by many to start at linebacker. A fracture in his leg ruined all of that, ending his 2010 season before it could begin. 2011 wasn’t much kinder to Fisher. He looked as if he never got his full speed back, and while his instincts were still sharp, his tackling and agility took a noticeable hit.

2. Ciante Evans – CB – Junior

Why – Ciante Evans did an excellent job filling in for an injured Alfonso Dennard in 2010, and a lot of people thought he would be the next big success story from the Pelini brothers. However, coaches opted to stick Evans in the nickel slot and tried a number of different players at cornerback this season opposite Dennard. Andrew Green appears to have jumped Evans on the depth chart.

3. Brion Carnes – QB – Sophomore

Why – Entering the season, many fans were wondering when, not if, Brion Carnes would unseat Taylor Martinez as Nebraska’s starting quarterback. Carnes had a few looks early in the season, but seemed robotic and tight in his option execution and never found the same success throwing the ball in-game as he did in the spring game. Fans quickly gave up the fight for Carnes, and as Martinez continued to improve, all hope appears to be lost for Carnes unseating T-Magic.

By Chris Peters

Photo Courtesy Getty Images